Collapsible vehicle.



F. KAPLAN.

GOLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE. APPLICATION r-ILBD JULY 1,1908.

Patented May 28, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEETL- www COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPM C0..\\'^SH1NGTON. h. c.

F. KABLAN. J GOLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE. I

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1908.

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COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

APPLAIOATIONTILED JULY 1, 190B.

` Patented May 28, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3;

COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH Co.. WASHINGTONy D, C.

F. KAPLAN. COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1908.

vlmwmmimay 28, 1912.

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\ ing from the spirit of the invention or sac'- 40 rear wheel-supportlock and the rear body- UNITED srArEsfrArENr OFICE. f

REDRICK KAPLAN, on Biirciri,v WISCONSIN.

COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it lmown that I, FREDRIOK KAPLAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beloit, in t-he county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and' provide means wherebythe carriage may beconveniently collapsed for transportation and readily set up for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for conveniently andeiiiciently holding the collapsible parts rigid while the carriage isbeing used.

Another object is to provide means for resiliently supporting the slingor body portion ofthe vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable back for theybody portion of the vehicle, wherebyth'e back may be adjusted to suitvarying conditions.

Other objects and advantages, as well as lthenovel details ofconstruction of the invention, will bespecifically describedhereinafter, it being understood thatchanges in form, proportionandminordetails of construction may be resorted to without departricing any ofthe.` advantages thereof.`

In the drawings, Figure 1' is a side elevational view of a vehicleconstructed in accordance with my invention, the parts being in set-upposition. Fig. 2 isa similar view of the vehicle collapsed. Fig. 3 is arearV View of the vehicle. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section online 4 4 of Fig. `3 through the rear portion of the vehicle, showing thesupporting means. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the vehicle body support.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the wheel-support lock. Fig. 7 isa detailperspective view of the bearing for Fig. 8 is a fragmental hicle frame,and of thebail for locking the front port-ion of the wheel-supportinoperative position.` 'n Fig. 9 is a view'partly in section and part-lyinelevation of the wheelsupporting bar, its llock'qand the resilientsupport for the vehicle body. Fig.'10 is a side view of the same. Fig.-11 is an enlarg'ed detail viewrof the end of one fof the 1rock-'shaft-locling levers. Fig. 121. is a Specification of LettersPatent.

A vPatented. May 28,1912. Application mea July 1, 190s. serial No.441,275;

cross-sectionall view through the rocking bars, a bodysupportingspringanchor'being shown in plan, and Fig. 13'is asimilarviewthroughVV the rock bars,` showing `the vation. Y

I have lshown but one embodiment of my invention in the accompanyingdrawings, and that may consist of a body supporting frame, .comprisingVt-he lfront and rear bars guiding portion of the body support in ele- 1and 2, connected together by thelongijftudinal rock shafts 3 and 4. Therock shafts 3 and 4 are journaled in bearings 5, of which there is oneyat each corner Vof the rectangular frame formed by the end bars and rockshafts. end of the vehicle each comprise a plate 6 bent back upon itselfto forma journal bearing for the reception of'one of the rods 3 or 4(see Fig. 7). Extending/fromone edge TheV bearingsv at .the front ofeach of the plates is a tongue or projecf* tion VT'provided with anopening to receive a guide rod for one of the front springs of thevehicle body, to ybe* described hereinafter.` The respective journalsare secured to theffront or rear bars bysuitable fastening kdevices andthe rearr journals also have approximately the same' construction `asthose attached to the front bar, save that the rear journals are devoidof the eXtension 7. The ends ofthe end bars 1 and 2 are bifurcated orslotted andthe slots in the bar 1 are designated by the numeral 1a whilethose in the bar 2 arefdesignated by the numeral 2a. Pins or ngers,rigid with the respective rock shafts, are attached to Thesepins aredesignated as 3a for arms 10 suitably fixed kto .said rockshafts.

Thus it is apparent. that when the rock shafts are swung on theirjournals Qthe wheels will be caused to swing'finto collapsing. positionor the operative position, ac'- cording to the will ofthe operator.

On' therear bar 2 are two'^ end bracketsY designated 11, andcach bracketisA provided with anupstanding liporprojection having a slot 12 therein.registering with the groove infthe adjacent end, of the'. end bar"whichy supports it. The purpose of providing the slo-t in the bracketis to permit one of the pins carried by the rock shafts t-o pass throughsaid slot so as to permit the insertion of a locking member between itsparticular pin andthe inner face of the adjacent bracket, so as to holdthe rock shaft against movement. The locking means herein shown for therear pins consists of two pivoted levers 13 and 14, one of which ispivoted to a bracket at one end of the rear bar and the other is pivotedto a bracket at the opposite end of the rear bar; the two upper ends ofthe respective levers 13 and 14 being connected to and forming part ofthe handle 15 used for propelling the vehicle (see Fig. 3). The ends ofthe levers 13 and 14, below their pivotal points, are chamfered on oneface and curved at their ends so as to form substantially knife edges orinclined faces 16 so that when properly manipulated the insertion of theinclined face between t-he pin on the rock shaft and the bracket facewill have a wedging effect, that is to say, the space between the pinand the adjacent face of the bracket will be filled, so as to preventany play of the pins with the consequent movement of the rock shafts.The similar pins 3a at the front ends of the respective rock shafts litin the grooves 1a in the respective ends of the front end bar 1, andt-hese pins are adapted to pass through slots 17 in the brackets 17,there being one at each end of.

the bar 1. The brackets 17 are provided with horizontal in-turned lips18, which, together with the extension 7, form supports for the guiderods 19 around which are coils of compression springs 20, one end ofeach of which rests upon an extension 7. The other end of each springbears against an end of one of the side bars 21 or 22 of the body, sothat the compression springs will constitute lcushions to resilientlysupport the forward portion of said body. The brackets 17 also support apivoted bail 23, having pin engaging arms or levers 24 and 24a. Thenether edges of the lever arms 24 and 24a are chamfered or wedge shapedin cross sect-ion to wedge in and take up the spaces between the pins31L and the sides of the brackets 17. It will be apparent then that therock shafts are provided with front and rear locks and any tendency ofthe shafts to t-urn while the vehicle is being used will be resisted atthe front and rear ends of the vehicle.

As heretofore stated, the sling or body of the vehicle consists in partof the side bars 21'and 22. These side bars carry the longitudinal rods25, to which the side edges of the flexible body portion 26 areattached; the front of said iieXible body portion being fastened to atransverse bar 27. The flexible body portion 26 may consist of a doublefabric and of suitable form. In the rear of the body portion I mayprovide a rigid seat 2S to the rear side edges of which I may fasten apivoted back 29, which may be adjusted to various positions when thevehicle is set up for use or entirely thrown down wit-hin the Abodyportion when the vehicle is collapsed. The side bars forming a part ofthe back frame are provided with pins 30, interchangeable in theopenings 31 in said frame 29 and these pins are adapted to engage hooks32 on the side bars of the sliding bail 33, the ends of which areconnected to the sleeves 34, one on each of the bars 21 and 22. Thelocking bars 13 and 14 are provided with spring anchors 35, which mayconsist of a pin having an eye therein, the eye engaging between certaincoils of the spring 36 to make one end thereof fast. The lower end ofeach spring is fastened to a longitudinally movable rod 37 (Figs. 4 and5), having its lower end bent in the form of a loop 3S to surround thelocking bar o-n which it slides. The oppositie or upper ends of the rods37 project through the springs and are bent to form terminal stirrups39, each to receive the rear end of one of the rods 21 or 22.

It will be observed that the springs 36 are tension springs so that thestirrups 39 will be depress-ed when weight is applied to the vehiclebody and the rear springs will be put under tension while the forwardsprings will be put under compression.

The use of tension and compression springsA in the manner illustrated isconducive to ease in riding and assists in the proper balancing of thevehicle body. Then the vehicle is collapsed, the back 29 is swungforwardly and downwardly to lie upon the seat 28. The handle 15 is thenswung forwardly, the stirrups 39 on said handle sliding before them thesleeves 34 which carry the bail 33. In the operation of setting up thevehicle, after the handle 15 has been swung into operative position theback 29 is swlung upwardly and rearwardly into position, said back inthis movement engaging the supporting bail 33 and sliding the sleeves 34along the side bars 21 and 22 into their rearmost position. In order tobrace the locking and handle bars when the vehicle is set up, I haveprovided the braces comprising the toggles 40 and 41. One end of onetoggle is connected to a lock bar at 42 and the other to a sleeve on therock shaft at 43, the two toggles being connected together by a rulejoint. Thus when the handle 15 and the two locking bars are swung upinto position, the braces will hold thehandle against accidentalcollapse. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of and at the sametime permit relative rotation of said sleeves and shafts, any common orsuitable umeans maybe provided, such as annular recesses 43EL in theperipheries of the rock shafts, in which recesses the sleeves 43 lie.The bolts which connect the toggles to the lock bars also serve as stopsto limit the upward movement of the loop guides 38, so that the tensionsprings will only be eective in imparting a limited longitudinalmovement to the rod 87. l In order to prevent the seat 28 from beingraised, due to vibration caused by the passage of the vehicle over anunevensurface, I have provided stay straps 44 which may be secured tothe bottom of the seat and to the rear wheel-arms 10.

I claim as my invention: l. In a collapsible vehicle, a base framehaving grooved end bars and rocking side bars,'projections on the sidebars and positioned to enter the grooves in the end bars, and lockingmembers on the end bars to retainy said projections in the grooves. 2.In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame, and a body, a resilient pivotalconnection between the body and thebase at one end of the vehicle, and apivoted handle at the opposite end `of the vehicle having a spring hungbody support. y

3. In a collapsible vehicle, a base Jframe, having rocking side bars`provided with transverse pins, brackets on the frame having openingsthrough which the pins may project, and locking members ymovable intopositions between the pins and the brackets. 4. In a collapsiblevehicle, a base frame having rocking side bars provided with transversepins, brackets upon the base frame, and having slots through which thevpins may project, and pivoted locking devices carried by the bracketsand movable between the pins and the brackets to prevent movement ofsaid side bars.

5. In a collapsible vehicle,'a base frame having rocking side barsprovided with transverse pins, brackets upon the base frame, and havingslots through which the pins may project, and pivoted locking deviceshaving wedge-shaped edges, carried by the brackets and movable betweenthe pins and the brackets to prevent movement of said side b-ars.

6. In a collapsible carriage, a base frame, a handle pivotally mountedthereon, a body comprising longitudinal side bars, a back hinged on saidbody, a back support slidable on said side bars, said back support beingmovable into operative position by said back, and means on said handleadapted to engage said back support lin the folding movement of saidhandle for moving said back support and said back into inoperativeposition.- Y

7 In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame, a body resiliently supportedon Xed bearings at one end of the base frame to fold downwardlyon saidbearing against 'the base frame, and pivoted resilient bearings for thebody at the other end of the base frame arranged to fold toward thefirst mentioned end of the base frame and against said base frame.

' 8. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame comprising two end bars andtwo side bars rotatably connected with said end bars; a pin iXed to oneend of each of said sidebars and adapted to lie against one end of oneof said end bars, and movable means carried by the last mentioned endbar and arranged to be interposed in the path of movement of said pin.

9. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame comprising an end bar and twoside bars rotatively connected with said end bar; a pin fixed to one endof each of said side bars and arranged to lie against one end of saidend bar; and a bail pivotally supported on said base frame, the sidearms of said bail being arranged to be interposed in the path ofmovement of said pins.

10. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame comprising two end bars,`each providedat its ends with bearings; two side bars journaled in saidbearings; a pin iXed to each end of each of said side bars and arrangedto lie in a groove in the end of the adjacent end bar, and means forlocking each pin in its groove.

11. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame comprising an end bar and twoside bars roo tatably connected with said end bar; a pin fixed to eachside/bar and arranged to lie against one end of said end bar; bracketson said end bar; a handle pivotally connected with said brackets; andparts connected with said handle and arranged to hold said pins againstsaid end bar.

12. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame; a handle pivoted to saidbase frame; means for limiting pivotal movement of the handle; and aseat frame attached at its forward end to the base frame, said handlehaving a sliding connection with said seat frame and supporting saidseat frame. Y

13. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame; a handle pivoted to saidbase frame; means for limiting pivotal movement of the han-v dle; twobody-supporting bars supported at their forward ends by the base frameand yieldingly mounted members carried by said handle upon which therear ends of said bars are supported, said members being adapted toslide along said bars.

14. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame; a handle pivoted to saidbase frame; means for limiting pivotal movement of the handle; a seatframe attached at its forward end to the base frame; said handlecomprising two side portions; a rod slidably mounted upon each of saidside. portions and yieldingly supported on said sidepor-tions;

stirrup at the upper ends-of said rods to receive the rear end of saidseat frame, said stirrups being adapted to slide along said seat frame.

15. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame and a seat frame arrL nged tofold together; a back movably supported at its lower end by said seatframe; a bail mounted upon the seat frame to slide longitudinallythereof and arranged to support the upper part of said back, the sidearms of said bail providing hooks; and projections on said back arrangedto lie in said hooks.

16. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame; a handle pivoted to the rearend of said base frame and arranged to fold forward and down against thebase frame; compression springs supported by the forward end of saidbase frame; a seat frame supported at its forward end by saidcompression springs and arranged to fold downwardly into a planesubstantially parallel with the base frame; and tension springs carriedby said handle and serving to support the rear end of said seat frame.

17 A collapsible vehicle comprising a base frame; vertical rods carriedby said base frame; coiled springs surrounding said rods; a seat frame,the forward end of which is slidably and pivotally mounted on said rodsand supported by said springs; and suitable means for supporting therear end of said seat frame. j

18. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame having grooved end bars androcking side bars, projections on the side bars positioned to enter thegrooves in the end bars, brackets on said base frame having slotsthrough which said projections may pass, and locking members pivoted onsaid brackets and movable into position between said projections andsaid brackets to lock said projections in said grooves.

19. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame,

a swinging wheel support, a projection on said wheel support, a bracketon said base frame, said bracket having a slot therein through whichsaid projection is adapted to pass7 and a handle pivoted on said bracketand having a part movable into position between said bracket and saidprojection for locking said wheel support against move- A ment.

20. In a collapsible vehicle, a base frame comprising end bars, bearingsat the end of said bars, the bearings at one end of said base framehaving ears thereon7 side bars journaled in said bearings, pins fixed tosaid side bars and arranged to lie against the ends of said end bars,brackets at the ends of one of said end bars, a bail pivotally mountedon said brackets and arranged to hold said pins against the ends of saidlast mentioned end bars, rods fixed in said brackets and the ears onsaid bearings, coiled springs surrounding said rods, and a seat frame7one end of which is slidably mounted'on said rods and supported by said.springs. l

FREDRICK VKAPLAN.

Witnesses:

ERNEST U. SCHROETER, LUTHER L. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

